Irrigating process and apparatuses therefor

ABSTRACT

The combination of a long elevated water distributing and sprinkling conduit and a series of longitudinally spaced apart airborne support stations for that conduit is automatically moved over a large field while above and out of contact with that field and crops thereon while uniformly irrigating such field and crops without creating ruts in the field or damaging the crops thereon. The apparatuses therefor comprise a series of airborne stations that support and move a conduit and also provide for automatically maintaining alignment of each of the airborne conduit support stations relative to others in the series.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,840,180

Wagner 1 1 Oct. 8, 1974 1541 IRRIGATING PROCESS AND 3,381,922 5/1968 L111; 239/171 x 3,410,489 11/1968 Waldrum 239/171 APPARATUS'ES THEREFOR 3,411,238 11/1968 Phillips et a1. 239/171 X [76] Inventor: M1lton H- agner, R e- 1 3,759,330 9/1973 Rainey et a1. 169/2 R Brownfield, Tex. 79316 20, Primary Examiner-Robert Ward, Jr. 21 Appl. No.1 381,151 57 ABSTRACT The combination of a long elevated water distributing 52 us. c1 239/1, 239/63, 239/77, and sprinkling conduit and a series of longitudinally 239/171 spaced apart airborne support stations for that conduit 51 rm. (:1 1305b 17/02 is automatically moved over a large field while above I [58] Field of Search 239/1, 63, 64, 65, 77, and out of Contact with that field and crops thereon 239 97 171 330; 47 2; 244 13 1 9 2 A, 2 while uniformly irrigating such field and crops Without R creating ruts in the field or damaging the crops thereon. The apparatuses therefor comprise a series-of 5 Ref Cited airborne stations that support and move a conduit and UNITED STATES PATENTS also provide for automatically maintaining alignment 2 659 556 "/1953 Doblhoff 239,171 X of each of the airborne conduit supportstations rela- 2:789:009 4/1957 Maraccinil .II... 239/1x Others m h i" 3,039,698 6/1962 Richards 239/64 10 Claims, 22 Drawing Figures 84- 68 e3 9 a2 5 s1 73 2;, Two

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SHEEI 6 (IF 8 I78 I77 I7 we" we 75 IRRIGATING PROCESS AND APPARATUSES THEREFOR CROSS REFERENCES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. The Field of the Invention The fields of art to which this invention pertains are fluid sprinkling processes using a circumferentially moving distributor and heavier than air aircraft of the helicopter type.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art apparatuses for irrigating large fields using elevated conduits supported by ground supported wheeled towers developed ruts in the irrigated field and damaged crops thereon during traverse of the field by the conduit support stations. Automatic aerial spraying at sufficiently low level and speeds and in exact patterns to provide uniform water distribution and at night to avoid evaporative effects has heretofore been impractical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed to automatically moving both a long elevated conduit for distributing and sprinkling water over a large field and a series of like supports for that conduit above and out of contact with that field and crops thereon while irrigating that field and crop with water from that conduit so that the apparatus does not create ruts in that irrigated field or crush growing crops on that field while the conduit traverses and irrigates the field and crops thereon at an even rate.

The process uses the ground effect of a rotating helicopter type rotor to maintain each of a series of like conduit-supporting station frames attached to the conduit at spaced apart distances along that conduit at a substantially fixed height over flat or irregular ground and crops while means sensitive to the alignment of each of the series of stations in the horizontal plane provide for moving each of the airborne stations at a uniform angular speed transversely of the conduit in a generally horizontal plane while supplying water to and sprinkling water from the conduit to the ground therebelow at a uniform rate of water volume per unit of ground area.

One embodiment of apparatus for such process comprises a series of like airborne conduit support stations spaced apart along the length of the conduit and attached to and supporting the conduit, with each such airborne conduit support station comprising a frame for a propeller or rotor and its motors and a rotor protecting frame that also serves as a support for control cables in positions relative to the base frame that provide for alignment sensing and control of each support station relative to the others in the series. In another embodiment of apparatus, each of the series of airborne support stations comprises a frame for a propeller and a pair of motors, with the frame including two sets of wheels and wheel supports spaced apart on the frame along the length of the conduit to which the station frame is attached, each set of wheels extending transversely to the conduit to not only mechanically support the base frame when on the ground and stabilize the frame when airborne but also to support control cables in positions relative to the base frame that provide for automatic actuation of station alignment control means on the frame responsive to the position of that station relative to the other stationsin the series.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall oblique diagrammatic representation of the process of operation of the apparatuses as 30 and of this invention by illustrative arrays 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 16 of stations as 3l36 of apparatus 30 while moving in its circular path above fields (40 and irrigated by such apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a side oblique and perspective view of one embodiment of station, 33, according to this invention in a lateral end view along the direction of arrow 2A of FIGS. 3 and 8.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of station 33 seen along rection of the arrow 3A of FIGS. 2 and 10.

FIG. 4 is a perspective enlarged view of the control vane structure in zone 4A of FIGS. 3, 6 and 7 in direction of arrow 48 of FIG. 7 when such control structure is arrayed to accelerate the movement of the station 33 in a forward or counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 1 from its rearward position 33E in array IE to its aligned position 33F in array 1F FIG. 5 shows the same vane structure as shown in the di- FIG. 4 arrayed to move station 33 in a backward or clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 1, as shown in movement of the station 33 from its position 338 shown in array 18 to its aligned position 33C shown in array 1C.

FIG. 5A is a top view of speed control assembly 239 and other apparatus in region -of pivot pipe 39.

FIG. 5B is a vertical sectional diagrammatic brokenaway view of component of the speed control assembly 239.

FIG. 6 is a top view of station 33 and adjacent cables along direction of arrow 6A of FIGS. 2 and 7.

FIG. 7 is a front view of station 33 and cables of zone 7A of FIG. 1 in array 1A of FIG. 1, as seen along direction of arrow 7C of FIG. 2 and section 7D7D of FIG.

with station 33 to rear of the other stations 31, 32 and 34 as in array 18 of FIG. I.

FIG. 10 shows the stations 31-34 with station 33 in advance of the stations 31, 32 and 34 adjacent thereto such as is shown in overall array 1B of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a front view of array of stations 3.1-34

taken along the plane llB-llB of FIG. 8 to show the orientation of the central vertical axis of each of stations 31-34 relative to each other along the length of conduit 38 during operation of apparatus 30 in positions 1A and 1D.

FIG. 12 is a side view of another embodiment of station, 133, according to this invention, in a lateral end view along direction of arrow 12A of FIG. 13.

FIG. 13 is a rear view of station 133 seen along the direction of arrow 13A of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is in full lines a perspective enlarged view of the control vane structure in zone 14A of FIG. 13 when such control structure is arrayed to accelerate the movement of the station 133 in a forward or counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 1. The long dashed lines of FIG. 14 show the same structure arrayed to move such station in a backward or clockwise direction. The dotted lines show the vanes in neutral position.

FIG. 15 is a top view of station 133 and adjacent ca bles along direction of arrow 15A of FIGS. 12 and 17.

FIG. 16 is a front view of station 133 when in a zone as 7A of FIG. 1 in array 1A of FIG. 1, as seen along direction of arrow 16C of FIG. 12 and section l7D17D of FIG. 15 to show the overall arrangement of the control cables at station 133.

FIGS. 17, 18 and 19 are enlarged top views of the arrays of stations 131-134 in FIG. l1 to illustrate the relations of the control cables thereof during the different relations of those stations relative to each other. FIG. 17 shows the stations 131-134 in straight line relationship as shown in FIG. 1, array 1A. FIG. 18 shows station 133 to the rear of the other stations 131, 132 and 134 in an array as in array 1E of FIG. 1 (as there shown for station 33).

FIG. 19 shows the stations 131-134 with station 133 in advance of the stations adjacent thereto as diagrammatically shown in overall array 18 of FIG. 1 for station 33.

FIG. 20 is a front view of stations 131-134 taken along the direction of arrow plane 20B-20B of FIG. 17 to show the orientation of the central vertical axes of the stations 131-134 relative to each other along the length of conduit 138 during operation of apparatus 130.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The sprinkling and irrigation apparatus .30, constructecl in accordance with the present invention, comprises a distributing pipe 38 pivotally connected to a central supply pipe 39 and movable around the central pipe as an axis, while a plurality of supports stations as 31-37, each airborne in normal operation of the apparatus 30, are disposed at spaced positions along the distributing pipe; a plurality of discharge nozzles as 42, 42' and 42" are also spaced along the distributing pipe for spraying water on the land 40 as the distributing pipe moves around the field.

A control cable and vane system 70 cooperate with the support station air blast at each intermediate support station for automatically controlling the drive and support means in accordance with bending or displacement of the distributing pipe, due to unequal movement at the supports, and thereby maintaining the moving pipe in alignment. Such a control device may take the form of a tension cable attached to the pipe at a point spaced to each side of each support, and adapted to determine the position of regulating vanes. The speed of one station, as 31, around the pipe support at the ineer end of the distributing pipe, is adjusted independently or set by hand, so that this support will act as a master support" and regulate the speed of the entire assembly 30. In assembly 30, as shown in FIGS.

141, a relatively long distributing pipe 38 is mounted on a plurality of like support stations and connected at the center of the field to the central pipe 39. When rotated around the central pipe, the outer end of the distributing pipe will traverse a circular path, such as around circle 41, to spray water on all of the land enclosed within circle 41 when the field 40 is square and the length of conduit pipe 38 one-half the length of one side of the square field. The length of conduit is measured from its central end, which is attached to pivot 39, to its lateral end 49. While the corners 43 outside circle 41 then will not be traversed by rotation of pipe 38, the corners are traversedand automatically readily watered in accordance with special provisions hereinafter described, when the length of the conduit, as 38, is equal to the length of one-half of a diagonal of the square field, as shown for field 140 (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1). In the embodiments 30 and herein, the pivot and central supply pipe 39 is supplied water for irrigating purpose from a well 46 or other source of. relatively clear water, i.e. free of floating debris or undue amounts of silt, sand, gravel or the like. A pump motor 391 which feeds pipe 39 and the conduit 38 or 138 does not extend far enough above ground to interfere with the rotating movement of distributing pipe 38 which may be disposed at a convenient height. such as from 8 to 20 feet above ground level, thereby passing over the crop when grown. When the pump motor is installed within the confines of the field, electric wires thereto may be buried in a ditch, plowed for the purpose, and the ground then turned thereover.

When the well, such as the well in FIG. 5B, is located outside the field, a pipe 39L leads from the well to the central pipe and is preferably buried sufficiently deep so as not to be damaged or dislodged by plowing, cultivating or the like. As indicated above, if the water pressure of well 46 is insufficient, a pump is preferably installed, which will usually be located at the well.

The connection between central pipe 39 and the rotating conduit 38 (or 138) may be'any suitable conventional sealing connection, as in US. Pat. No. 2,604,359, FIG. 3, such as of the type in which thecentral pipe is provided with an exterior, packing attachment flange and an interior safety flange and the distributing pipe terminates atits inner end in elbow 38 from which depends a vertical pipe 38V in turn having an outwardly extending packing flange at the lower end thereof. A packing gland which may be attached by a series of bolts to the exterior flange of central pipe is adapted to clamp packing against packing flange so that as vertical pipe and distributing pipe rotate, there will be no leakage of water.

A plurality of sprinkling heads 42, 42' and 42" are disposed at suitable spaced distances along pipe 38 and 138 and mounted to be downwardly directed and are provided near the outer ends of pipe 38 with shutoff valves. The sprinkling heads may be of any suitable type, such as provided with a nozzle for discharging a jet of water against a flat blade which spreads the stream and causes a greater area below the pipe to be watered by each head. The sprinkling heads are preferably spaced apart in accordance with the width of the stream of water discharged from each head, with a slight overlap to insure complete coverage of the field, as 40 (or 140), traversed by conduit 38 or 138, the nozzles varying the amount of water discharged in accordance with the distance of such nozzle from the center pivot 39. That is, nozzles farther from the center discharge a greater amount of water, or are spaced closer together, because of the greater territory to be covered at a longer radius.

In regard to the aligned motion of the series of stations forming the apparatuses 30 and 130 the term angular speed used herein means the speed of the stations (as 31-37) about the pivot pipe 39 measured in radians or degrees. Thus, each of the stations as 33 moves in a circular path as 331 and 311, 32F, 33P, 34P, 35F, 36?, 37P, for stations 31-37 respectively at different linear speeds dependent on its distance from pipe 39, while the conduit 38 is straight or substantially so. In the rotary paths 31P-37P each of the stations as 33 in the series of stations effects the same portion of angular movement along its complete circular path as the other, e.g. 32 and 34, in the same period of time, and thereby in overall, with the correctionprovided by alignment means herein has the same angular speed as the others during such travel above and around field 40. I

In a particular embodiment of apparatus 30 as shown in FIGS. 2-11 operating in an array as shown in FIG. 1, each of a plurality of like stations 31-37 such as 33 is composed of a base frame assembly 50, a propeller or rotor drive and support assembly 60, a control cable and vane assembly 70 and a rotor protective frame as sembly 80 in cooperative combination.

The apparatus station 33 is described here in'some detail as exemplary of the other apparatus stations because each of the stations 31-37 is identical in structure and function to the others. More particularly, in the usual structure of apparatus 30 for irrigating a square land area 40 of a quarter section therewill be between 7 and airborne stations as 33, each 100 to 200 feet apart (depending on size of rotor blade) arrayed over the ground as shown in arrays of 'F IG. 1. The apparatus 30 operates so that each of the stations 31-37 has a substantially fixed distance, as 31H to 37H, usually 8-12 feet for a foot diameter rotor 68, above the ground 40 immediately below each station as in positions 31 -37' respectively, as shown in array 16 for irregular contoured land (FIG. 1).

Over the usual size of irrigated quarter section, the conduit 38 has a 1320 foot length and there may be usually 13 stations such as 33. FIG. 1 shows only 7 such airborne support stations and pivot 39 for purposes of diagrammatic representation and clarityand to'avoid unnecessary repetition and loss of detail.

The above description of operation is directedat the conventional coverage of a field, as 40, bounded by corners 40.1, 40.2, 40.3 and 40.4 where only the center circular portion of square field (the portion bounded by a circle within the field) is irrigated.

In other arrangements of apparatus 30 and 130, the conduit (as 38) is sufficiently long (1870 feet) from pipe 39 to its lateral end to extend to the corners of the field, 140.1. 140.2, 140.3, 140.4, as shown for field 140 in FIG. I, and the portions of conduit 38 supported by each of the conduit support stations traversing paths as 36F and 35? that extend beyond the field to be irrigated (140) are provided with valves and controls therefor that automatically cut off flow of irrigation liquid to the portions of the conduit 38 peripheral to the area to be irrigated when those stations are beyond the area to be irrigated while conduit support stations interior to the boundaries of the field, as 31-35 operate continuously in their paths (31P-35P) over the area to I be irrigated. v

In station 33 (as in station 31-37), the base frame 50 comprises a rigid longitudinal front top base member 52, a rigid longitudinal front back base frame member 53, a rigid longitudinal rear top base frame member 54, a rigid longitudinal rear bottom base frame member 55. These members 52-55 are all located parallel to each other and are held in fixed horizontal and vertical spaced relation by rigid horizontally extending frame members, 75, 76, 77, 78 and 75', 76', 77', 78' firmly fixed thereto, and vertically extending members as A-G to form a rigid light weight frame. Central rear diagonal member 56, central front diagonal member 57, lateral rear diagonal member 58 and a lateral diagonal front member 59 form a rigid pyramidal structure with its lower portion firmly attached to the bottom base frame members 53 and'55 and the top base frame members52 and 54 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A vertically extending rigid cylindrical rotor or propeller shaft sleeve 61 is firmly attached to horizontally extending rigid cross brace members 75", 76", 77" and 78" below the apex of the vertically extending members 56-59. Each of the diagonal members 56,.57, 58, and 59 are firmly .joined at their upper end to the top of the sleeve 61 whereat islocated a collar 69.

A central electric motor 62 and lateral electric motor 63 are each of the same size, shape and weight and each is comprised of a conventional interior rotary armature and a coaxial fixed cylindrical outer shell with field units electrically connected for variable speed control. These motors are each firmly attached to and supported on frame 50 on either side of rigid propeller sleeve 61 and at equal distances from the center of the propeller sleeve axis.-The rotary shaft of each motor armature is vertical and parallel to the longitudinal axis of sleeve 61 and has an output pulley located at and firmly fixed to the bottomof such shaft. A c'entraldrive pulley belt 64 extends from the output shaftof the central motor 62 to the propeller shaft pulley 66 and an output belt 65 extends from output pulley of lateral motor 63 to that propeller shaft pulley 66. The pulley 66 is firmly attached to and drives the propeller shaft 67 which is rotatably yetfirmly located in the sleeve 61.

A multi-bladed rotor '68 is located at and firmly fixed ler orrotor as usedin helicopters with a hub 79 that holds the rotor blades in fixed angular relation to each other-and to the axis of shaft 67. 9

The conduit pipe 38 is firmly attached to'and sup-- ported by brackets, as 38" (in FIGS. 4 and 5) and 38' 'in FIG. 2 to the bottom transverse members, as 77' and 78' attached to the longitudinal bottom membersas 53 and 55 of the base frame as 50 of each of the stations as 31 to37. I

A control vane and cable assembly comprises alignment control vanes 71-74 at central and lateral end of frame 50 control cables 91-94, 96-98, 101-10 and related parts 104-127 for control of the vanes and positioning of the base frame 50 f each station as 33 relative to the other stations in the array of the plurality of stations forming apparatus 30. These vanes are a rear lateral control vane 73, a front lateral control vane 74, rear central control vane 71, and front central control vane 72. Each vane, as 72, is a rigid thin panel com-' prising a rigid steel or aluminumplate or sheet 72? and an upper sleeve 728; each sleeve, as 725, slidably and pivotally fits on a horizontal longitudinal top frame member (72S on 52, 718 on 54)..

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, front central control vane 72 is pivotally supported at its sleeve 725 on the central end of the front top longitudinal member 52 and a rear central vane 71 is pivotally located by its sleeve 71S on the central end of rear top longitudinal member 54. A front lateral control vane 74 is similarly pivotally located at the lateral end of the front top longitudinal member 52 and a rear lateral vane 73 is similarly pivotally located on the lateral end of the rear top longitudinal member 54.

The members 7l74 all of the same size and shape and are movable so that the bottom edge thereof is readily moved to the rear or the front of the top edge of such vane and so provide for control of movement of the air flow directed downwardly against such vanes by the propeller 68. i

The backward thrust of the air deflected by the van'es 71-74 does not, in view of the mass of the conduit 38 and water therein, cause a sufficient backward component of thrust of the rotors, as 68, at the very low speeds of which the various stations, as 33, of apparatus 30 operates to reduce the controleffected by the vanes movement responsive to the relative position of one station, as 33, to others in the series of stations forming apparatus 30.

In the embodiment 30 of FIGS. 2-11, a protective flat frame 80 extends around the periphery of the rotor 68 at the level of the rotor hub 79 and is firmly attached to and supported on the base frame 50; frame 80 also provides for attachment to and support of the control cables of system 70.

The protective frame 80 comprises a rigid, front member 81, rigid lateral side member 82, rigid rear member 83 and a rigid central side member 84, all firmly joined together at their corners, as shown in FIG. 6, by fish plates 80A, 80B, 80C, and 80D. These frame members provide a hollow square frame each of the sides of which is slightly larger, as shown in FIG. 6, than the diameter of the rotor 68. Frame 80 thus provides for mechanical protection of the rotor blades in the event of tipping while the apparatus 30 is on the ground nevertheless, the apparatus is quite light. A protective frame support subassembly 86A comprises a front lat- 1 eral-diagonal member 85, a rear lateral diagonal member 86, a rear central diagonal member 87 and a front central diagonal member 88, each (85-88) formed of rigid yet light pipe and extending from a firm attachment central of the vanes 73 and 74 and lateral of vanes 71 and 72 on the frame upward to a firm attachment of each at a corresponding corner of the protective frame 80 in the manner shown in the FIGS-2, 3, 6 and 7.

Componentsof a conduit support cable assembly, as 90, for each station, as 33, extend from the protective frame 80 to the conduit pipe 38.For each station, as

33, the cables of that assembly permit flexure or bending of the conduit 38 in the horizontal plane between stations when one station, as 33, is behind or ahead of neighboring stations, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. For each station, as 33, this assembly 90 comprises a lateral front cable 96- and a lateral rear cable 97, each attached to the lateral front and rear corners respectively of frame and are laterally joined, preferably with a 30 angle therebetween (or an angle no greater than 45 to one another. Lateral main cable 98, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 6, is attached by a clamp, as 99, to the conduit 38 which is firmly fixed to the conduit 38 at a point half way between the station'33 and the station lateral thereto 34.- Cable 98 is attached at its central end to the V-shaped junction of cables 91 and 92.

The central member 84 of the frame 80 is attached to the lateral end of a front central cable 91 attached to the front end of the member 84 and a rear central cable 92 attached to the rear end of the member 84. The central ends of cables 91 and 92 are joined together centrally, at an angle of 30 degrees usually, and no more than 45 degrees. A central main cable 93 is attached at its lateral end to the juncture of cables 91 and 92, and, at its central end to conduit 38 at a clamp, as 94 at a point substantially half way between the stations 33 and 32 to support the conduit between the stations. The cables are flexible steel wire cables.

This frame and rotor and cable structure provides for each station, as 33, that the center of gravity of the conduit pipe 38 and the base frame and of each entire station as 33 is located well below the plane of rotation of the 'stations propeller 68; thereby, substantial stability is provided to eachstation structure when, as shown in FIG. 7, such station'is airborne over the field as 40 over which apparatus 30 operates. As FIGS. 2 and 3 are to scale and blade 68 has a "20 foot diameter, as diagramatically shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, apparatus 30 operates airborne at such a height that conduit 38 is generally 8 to 12 feet above the level of the field 40 with each station as 31-36 at a substantially constant and predetermined elevation, as 31H, 32H, 33H, 34H, 35H, 36H, notwithstanding variations 'in elevation of adjacent portions as 40B, 40C, and 40D of the field 40, as shown in FIG. 1.

Thus, the conduit 38 travels in a surface 38F with the portions of surface 38F at substantially constant height (generally shown in FIG. 1 as 38H) over the level of the portions of the surface, as 40A,'40B, 40C and 40D of the field 40.

The distance of point of juncture 98] of cables as 97, 96 and 98 to the frame 80 is only a minor fraction of the total distance from center of propeller sleeve as61 of any one station as 33 to the clamp as 99 to which a main cable, as 98 is attached to the conduit 38; accordingly, cables 96, 97, 98 joining the station frame to the conduit 38 do not inhibit the bending of the conduit 38 with respect to the length of the base frame, as-50, of each station, as 33.

Similar laterally and centrally extending cables are provided for and attached to and support conduit portions adjacent each of the other stations, as cables 98A and 93A for stations 32, cables 98B and 93B for station 31; cables 98C and 93C for station 34: in the particular system shown, the cables, as 93 and 98A,- support the portions of conduit 38 between stations 32 and 33 and the cables as 93A and 98B support the portions of conduit 38 between stations 31 and 32. The cables as 98 and 93C support the portions of conduit 38 between stations 33 and 34.

The front to rear control cable system 100 is a part of the control vane assembly 70 and comprises for each station as 33 a pair of light but strong metal control cables as 101 and 102 that extend from each station to the conduit portions adjacent thereto, as cables 101 and 102 for station 33, shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6 and in FIGS. 8-10 shown for stations 31-34. Each control cable as 102 has one central end thereof, connected by the clamp as 94 to the conduit 38 while the other, lateral end, thereof is connected to bell crank 104 (which bell crank is pivotally mounted on front protective frame member 81) and central output cable 106 which provide for a controlled forward and rearward motion of central vanes 71 and 72 on one side of each station such as 33. Cable 106 is firmly yet flexibly attached to plates 71 and 72 and provide for the forward and rearward pivotal motion of the bottom ends thereof so as to direct the air blast from the propeller 68 and so provide for automatic movement of such station forward (counterclockwise as in H6. 1) and rearwardly (clockwise as in FIG. 1) in response to the position of such station in the array of such stations in the apparatus 30. Rigid rings 117 and 119 firmly held near the end of cable 106 are loosely located in vertical slots 71A and 72A in vanes 71 and 72 respectively; The rings encircle rigid rods 121 and 123 respectively which rods are firmly held as by brackets 125 and 127 on plates 71 and 72.

A control spring as 110 is provided for each output cable end as 106 and assists in the control and location of the vanes to which cable 106 is attached. A turnbuckle or adjustable eyebolt 112 attached to frame member 87 and spring 110 provides for particular disbase from which the movement of each output cable,

criminating adjustment of the end of cable as 106 relative to the vane plates as 71 and 72. The control cable, as 106, is attached to the vanes, as 71 and 72, and via spring, 110, and turnbuckle 112 to the rear rigid member, as 87 of the frame assembly 80. Such rigid frame member, as 87, provides a fixed point or base from which the movement of each output cable, as 106, operate to move the vanes as 71 and 72 and to'provide for appropriate forward and backward motion of such vanes and, correspondingly, for rearward and forward motion of the station as 33 in its array in order to maintain the array of stations as 31-37 in a straight line during the circular movement of the array of stations 31-37 about the pivot 39.

Control cable 101 has one lateral end thereof, connected by the clamp as 99 to the conduit 38 while the other, central end, thereof is connected over a rotatable pulley 105 (supported on frame 80, member 81, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) to central output cable 107 which provide for a controlled forward and rearward motion of lateral vanes 73 and 74 on the other, lateral, side of each station such as 33. Cable 107 is firmly yet flexibly attached to plates 73 and 74 and provides for the forward and rearward pivotal motion of the bottom ends thereof in response to the position of station 33 in the array of such stations in the apparatus 30. Rigid rings (as 117 and 119) firmly held near the end ofcable 107 are loosely located in vertical slots in vanes 73 and 74, respectively. The rings encircle rigid rods (as 121 and 123, respectively) which rods are firmly held as by brackets on plates 73 and 74. Control spring 111 is provided for each output cable end as 107 and assists in the control and location of the vanes to which cable 107 is attached. A turnbuckle or adjustable eyebolt 113 as 107, operate to move the vanes, as 73 and 74, to provide for their forward and backward motion when station 33 is displaced, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The vanes as 71, 72, 73 and 74 in any one station, as 33, are also adjustable by their adjusting screw or turnbuckle (as 112 for vanes 71 and 72 and turnbuckle 113 for vanes 73 and 74-) at a preset angle, prior to displacement by cables 101 and 102, to compensate for the twisting effect on the orientation of the base frame by the rotor 68 during its rotation about its supporting sleeve 61.

This invention includes the use of two counter rotating helicopter blades at each station as 33 to counter the torque produced about the frame when only one rotor blade is used. The drive for such dual rotor frame is by one centrally located motor for purpose of balance, or by a plurality of motors of like size and weight located on the base frame so thatthe weight thereof is equally balanced about the line of thrust of the two rotors. The rotors of such multi-rotor station may have different axes of rotation or be co-axial.

Although the longitudinal axis of each sleeve, as 61, is perpendicular to the lengthof the longitudinal members as 52, 53, 54 and of the base frame 50, in airborne operationof apparatus 30, the axis of the sleeve 61 of 'each station, as 33, is at an small tilt angle (49 for station 33, 49" for 34 in FIG. 11) to the vertical; such tilt angles increase progressively and uniformly at about 1 per station laterallyalong the conduit 38, as shown in FIG. 11 to provide tension along the conduit 38. For example, the tilt angle (49') of station 32 is greater than that of station 31, the tilt angle 49 of station 33 is greater than that of station 32, etc. This tilt angle is achieved for each station by use of vanes, as 47 and 48, that extend vertically and transversely to the length of the base frame of each station'and serves to tilt the axis of sleeve 61 when the station is airborne to a degree determined by lag bolts as 47' and 47" firmly attached to vertical side members of frame 50, such as C, through rigid ears thereon, as C, to fix the position of such vanes on frame 50. Vanes 47 and 48 are flat rigid imperforate plates (as are vanes 71-74); each is pivotally supported on transverse member 75 and 78' respectively at level of top longitudinal frame members 52 and 54 of frame 50 and extends downward and laterally as well as transversely.

For all stations, as 33, in the apparatus 30, the geometric center and all of the area of the vanes 47, 48 and 71-74 are above the center of gravity of the station and the portions of the water-filled conduit 38 attached thereto between conduit clamps (as 99 and 94) attached to conduit supporting cables supported by the base frame (as 50) through the protective frame 80 of that station.

The speed control assembly 239 of the apparatus 30 determines the rate at which the apparatus 30 traverses the field 40. The speed'control assembly comprises a motor 240 and a speed reducing gear train 241 (formed of pulleys and belts) operatively connected to the portion of conduit 38 adjacent to the pivot pipe 39. The motor 240 in the particular embodiment is an ac. motor that operates at substantially constant (1750 r.p.m.) speed; a first or motor output pulley 251 driven by the motor is operated at 1750 r.p.m. and drives the input pulley 252 on the speed reducing gear train 241. The motor output pulley 251 drives large first input pulley 252 at 175 r.p.m. The first input pulley 252 is fixedly attached to and co-axial with a smaller first output pulley wheel 253. The smaller output wheel 253 drives a second input pulley wheel 254 at 17.5 r.p.m. and the output pulley thereof, 255, to which it is firmly attached is of smaller diameter and drives a third pulley input wheel 256 at 1.75 r.p.m. or 102 revolutions per hour. A third pulley output wheel 257 is fixed to wheel 256 and drives a fourth input pulley 258 at 10.2 revolutions per hour (245 revolutions per day). The output pulley 259 of the fourth pulley drives a fifth input pulley wheel 260 at 24.5 revolutions per day. A fifth output pulley 261, attached firmly to the fifth input wheel 250 and co-axial therewith, drives a large input drive wheel 262, also referred to herein as a drive and timer wheel, at 2.45 revolutions per day. The first, third and fifth pulley wheels 252, 256 and 260, are rotatably mounted on one rigid pulley shaft 263 and the second and fourth pulley wheels 254 and 258 are mounted on a second rigid pulley shaft 264. The shafts are rotatably mounted in casing 271 of train 241. Belts 265, 266, 267 and 268, 269 and 270, respectively, are driven by wheels 251, 253, 255 and 257 and 259 and 261 and drive wheels 252, 254, 256, 258, 260 and 262.

Sleeves 252$, 254$, 256$, 258$ permanently connect input pulleys 252, 254, 256 and 258, respectively, to outputpulleys 253, 255, 257 and 259, respectively.

To select the desired angular speed of driving conduit 38 for rapid or slow speed through its portion 38L, either the pulley 272 may be disconnected from 258$ by removing a key as 272K from a groove therefor in sleeve 2588 that connects pulley 272 thereto or pulley 261 may be disconnected from sleeve 2608 by removing a key as 261K from a groove therefor in'sleeve 260$. Each key may be held in place by a spring-loaded collar, as 261K and 272S, held in position by springs 2615 and 272S.

In operation of apparatus 30, the vertical portion (38V) of -the elbow 38L at the inner end of the conduit as 38 138 in apparatus 130) pivots or rotates about the central longitudinal axis of the central pipe 39, which pipe 39 is cylindrical, as an axis or pivot and the pipe 39 also serves as a support for that inner or central end (38L) of pipe 38. While a water-tight yet pivotal connecting sleeve 39S (in embodiment 30) provides for a fluid-tight connection between the fixed pipe 39 and the vertical portion 38V of the rotating conduit 38, a cylindrical rotatable electrical connector 38K has a connector ring which is co-axial with and supported on pipe portion 38V. Cable 38C is permanently connected to 38K as an output therefrom while a cable 39C from generator 396 permanently. connects to stationary input terminals of connector 38K, which terminals are slidably yet operatively connected to the connector ring for passage of power to the motors on each station as 33 in'apparatus 30. The stationary part of connector 38K is firmly supported on casing 271 of train 241.

The operation of apparatus 130 is the same as above described for apparatus 30, with corresponding compo nents of apparatus 130 numbered by referent numerals units higher than above recited for apparatus 30.

In the embodiment of apparatus as shown in FIGS. 12-20 operating in an array as shown in FIG. 1, each of a plurality of like stations 131-137 such as 133 is composed of a base frame assembly 150, a propeller or rotor drive and support assembly 160, a control cable and vane assembly 170 and an outrigger wheel frame assembly 180 in cooperative combination.

The airborne station 133 is described here in some detail as exemplary of the other apparatus stations because each of the stations 131-137 is identical in structure and function to the others. More particularly, in the usual structure of apparatus 130 for irrigating a square land area 40 of a quarter section there will be between 7 and 1S airborne stations as 133, each 100 to 200 feet apart (depending on size of rotor blade) arrayed over the ground as shown in arrays of FIG. 1. The apparatus 130 operates so that each of the stations 131-137 has a substantially fixed distance, usually 8-12 feet, for a 20 foot diameter rotor 68 above the ground immediately below each station.

Over the usual size of irrigated quarter section, the conduit 138 has a 1320 foot length and there may be usually 13 stations such as 133.

In other arrangements of apparatus 130, the conduit as 138 is sufficiently long (1870 feet) from pipe 39 to its lateral end to extend to the corners of the field, 140.1, 140.2, 140.3, 140.4, as shown for field 140 in FIG. 1, and the portions of conduit 138 supported by each of the conduit support stations traversing paths as 36? and 35? that extend beyond the field to be irrigated (140) are provided with valves and controls therefor that automatically cut off flow of irrigation liquid to the portions of the conduit 138 peripheral to the area to be irrigated when those stations are beyond the area to be irrigated while conduit support stations interior to the boundaries of the field, as 131-135 operate continuously in their paths over the area to beirrigated.

In station 133 (as in station 131-137), the base frame comprises a rigid longitudinal front top base memher 152, a rigid longitudinal front base frame member 153, a rigid longitudinal rear top base frame 154, a

I rigid longitudinal rear bottom base frame member 155.

These members 152-155 are all located parallel to each other and are held in fixed horizontal and vertical spaced relation byrigid horizontally extending frame members, 175, 176, 177, 178 and 175', 176', 177, 178' firmly fixed thereto and vertically extending members as A-G to forma rigid lightweight frame. Central rear diagonal member 156, central front diagonal member 157, lateral rear diagonal member 158 and a lateral diagonal front member 159 form a rigid pyramidal structure with lower parts thereof firmly attached to the bottom base frame members 153 and 155 and the top base frame members 152 and 154 as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. A vertically extending rigid cylindrical rotor or propeller shaft sleeve 161 is firmly attached to horizontally extending rigid cross brace members 176", 177" and 178" below the apex of the vertically extending members 156-159. Each of the diagonal members 156, 157, 158 and 159 are firmly joined at their upper end to the top of the sleeve 161.

A central electric motor 162 and lateral electric motor 163 are each of the same size,.shape and weight and each is comprised of a conventional interior rotary armature and a co-axial fixed cylindrical outer shell with field units electrically connected for variable speed control. These motors are each firmly attached to and supported on frame 150 on either side of rigid propeller sleeve 161 and at equal distances from the center of the propeller sleeve axis. The rotary shaft of each motor armature is vertical and parallel to the longitudinal axis of sleeve 161 and has an output pulley located at and firmly fixed to the bottom of such shaft. A central drive pulley belt 164 extends from the output shaft of the central motor 162 to the propeller shaft pulley 166 and an output belt 65 extends from output pulley of lateral motor 163 to that propeller shaft pulley 166. The pulley 166 is firmly attached to and drives the propeller shaft 167 which is rotatably yet firmly located in the sleeve 161. A multi-bladed rotor 168 is located at and firmly fixed to the top of the shaft 167.

Each of members 151-159is formed of a rigid steel or aluminum pipe. Accordingly, the members 152-59 and 161 and 175-178 and l75'-178' and 175"178" form a rigid horizontally extending generally pyramidal shaped frame to firmly support sleeve 161 and motors 162 and 163 thereon to provide for supporting and driving the rotor or propeller shaft 167 and the rotor or propeller 168. The rotor or propeller 168 is a multibladed (3 blade) propeller or rotor as used in helicopters with a hub 179 that holds the rotor blades in fixed angular relation to each other and to the axis of shaft 167.

The conduit pipe 38 is firmly attached to and supported by brackets, as 138", to the bottom transverse members, as 177' and 178', attached to the longitudinal bottom members as 153 and 155 of the base frame as 150 of each of the stations as 131 to 137.

A control vane and cable assembly as 170 comprises front and rear vanes 171-174 at central and lateral end of frame 150 control cables 201 and 202 and related parts 201-214 connected thereto for control of the vanes and positioning of the base frame 150 and each station as 133 relative to the other stations in the array of the plurality of stations forming apparatus 130. These vanes are a rear lateral control vane 173, a front lateral control vane 174, rear central control vane 171, and front central control vane 172. Each vane, as 172, is a rigid thin panel comprising a rigid steel or aluminum plate or sheet 1721 and an upper sleeve 1725; each sleeve, as 1728, slidably and pivotally fits on a horizontal longitudinal top frame member 1725 on 152.1718 on 154).

As shown in FIG. 14, front central control vane 172 is pivotally supported at its sleeve 172S on the central end of the front top longitudinal member 152 and a rear central vane 171 is pivotally located by its'sleeve [71S on the central end of rear top longitudinal member 154. A front lateral control vane 174 is similarly pivotally located at the lateral end of the front top longitudinal member 152 and a rear lateral vane 173 is similarly pivotally located on the lateral end of the rear top longitudinal member 154.

The members 171-174 are all of the same size and shape and are movable so that the bottom edge thereof is readily moved to the rear or the front of the top edge of such vane and so provide for control of movement of the air flow directed downwardly against such vanes by the propeller 168.

The backward thrust of the air deflected by the vanes 171-174 does not, in view of the mass of the conduit 138 and water therein, cause a sufficient backward component of thrust of the rotors, as 168, at the very low speeds of which the various stations, as 133, of apparatus operate to reduce the control effected by the vanes movement responsive to the relative position of one station, as 133, to others in the series of stations forming apparatus 130 in the embodiment 130 of FIGS. 12-20 an outrigger frame assembly 180 extends transversely frontwards and rearwards of the length of base frame at level of the lower bottom base longitudinal members 153 and 155. Assembly comprises, in operative combination, a central outrigger wheel support beam 184, a lateral outrigger wheel support beam 182 which are rigid steel ells, each firmly attached to members 153 and 155, a lateral front wheel 182F, a lateral rear wheel 182R each rotatably supported at the front and rear end respectively of lateral beam 182, a central front wheel 1841 a central rear wheel 184R each rotatably firmly supported at front and rear end respectively of central beam 184. A lateral cable pulley 205 is supported on beam 182 at front end of lateral beam 182 immediately to rear of lateral front wheel 182F; a central cable pulley 204 is supported on beam 184 at front end of beam 184 immediately to rear of central front wheel 184F.

A conduit support cable assembly, as 190, for each station, as 133, extends'centrally and laterally from the collar 169 to the conduit pipe 138. For each station, as 133, the cables 198 and 193 of that assembly permit fiexure or bending of the conduit 138 in the horizontal plane between stations when one station, as 133, is behind or ahead of neighboring stations (132 and 134) as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, respectively. For each station, as 133, this assembly comprises a lateral cable 198 attached to the lateral side of collar 169' and, as illustrated in FIGS; 15, 17, 18 and 19, is attached by a clamp, as 199, to the conduit 138, which clamp is firmly fixed to the conduit 138 at a point half way between the station 133 and the station lateral'thereto, 134.

The central side of collar 169 is attached to the lateral end of a central cable 193.

Central cable 191 is attached at its central end to conduit 138 at a clamp, as 194 a point substantially half way between the stations 133 and 132 and support the conduits 138 between such stations. The cables are flexible steel wire cables.

Similar laterally and centrally extending cables as 193 and 198 are provided for and attached to and support conduit portions adjacent each of the other stations, as cables 198A and 193A for station 132, cables 198B and 193B for station 131; cables 198C and 193C for station 134: in the particular system shown, the cables, as 193 and 198A, support the portions of conduit 201 and 202 for station 133, shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 15 and in FIGS. 18-20 shown for stations 131-134.

Control cable 201 has one, lateral, end thereof connected by the clamp as 199 to the conduit 138 while the other, central end thereof isconnected over a rotatable pulley 205 (supported on frame member 182) to output cable 207 which provide for a controlled forward and rearward motion of lateral vanes 173 and 174 on the lateral side of each station such as 133. Cable 207 is firmly yet flexibly attached to plates 173 and 174 and provides for the forward and rearward pivotal motion of the bottom ends thereof in response to the position of such station in the array of such stations in the apparatus 130. Rigid rings (as 117 and 119) firmly held I near the end of cable 207 are loosely locatecl in vertical slots in vanes 173 and174 respectively which rods are firmly held as by brackets on plates 173 and 174, as shown for vanes 171 and 172.

Control spring 211 is provided for each output cable end s's zorairaassisainure controland'location of the vanes to which cable 207 is attached. A turnbuckle or adjustable eyebolt 213 is attached to frame member 182 and spring 211 and provides particular discriminating adjustment of the end of cables as 207 relative to the vane plates as 173 and 174. The control cable, 207, is attached to the vanes, 173 and 174, and via spring 211 and turnbuckle 213 to an upstanding rear rigid plate member, as 215, on the frame assembly 180. Such rigid frame member, as 215, provides a fixed point or base from which the movement of each output cable, as 207, operate to move the vanes as 173 and-174 to provide for their forward and backward motion.

Central control cable 202 has one central end thereof, connected by the clamp as 194 to the conduit 138 while the other lateral end, thereof is connected over a rotatable pulley 204 (supported on central outrigger frame member 184, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 14) to central output cable 206 which provide'for a controlled forward and rearward motion of central vanes 171 and 172 on the other, central, side of each station such as 133. Cable 206 is firmly yet flexibly attached to plates 17] and 172 and provides for the forward and rearward pivotal motion of the bottom ends thereof in response to the position of such station in the array of such stations in the apparatus 130. Rigid rings (as 117 and 119) firmly held near the end of cable 206 are loosely located in vertical slots in vanes 171 and 172, respectively. The rings encircle rigid rods (as 121 and 123), respectively, which rods are firmly held as by brackets on plates 171 and 172. A control spring 210 is provided for each output cable end as 106 and assists in the control and location of the vanes to which cable 206 is attached. A turnbuckle or adjustable eyebolt 212 is attached to frame member 214 and spring 212 provides for particular discriminating adjustment of the end of cable as 206 relative to the vane plates as 171 and 172. The control cable, 206, is attached to the vanes 171 and 172 and via spring 210 and turnbuckle 212 to the rear rigid member as 214 on the frame assembly 180. Such rigid frame member, as 214, provides a fixed point or base from which the movement of each output cable, as 206, operate to move the vanes, as 171 and 172, to provide for their forward and backward motion.

The vanes as 171, 172, 173 and 174 in any one station, as 133 of apparatus 130, as for apparatus 30, are also adjustable by an adjusting screw or turnbuckle (as This invention includes the use of two counter rotating helicopter blades at each station as 133 to counter the torque produced about the frame when only one rotor blade is used. The drive for suchdual rotor frame is by one centrally located motor for purpose of balance, or by a plurality of, motors of like size and weight located on the base frame so that the weight thereof is equally balanced about the line of thrust of the two rotors. The rotors of such multi-rotor station may have different axes of rotation or be co-axial.

Although the longitudinal axis of each sleeve, as 161, is perpendicular to the length of the longitudinal members as 152, 153, 154 and of the base frame 150, in airborne operation of apparatus 130, the axis of the sleeve 161 of each station, as 133, is at a small upwardly and laterally directed tilt angle to the vertical; such tilt angles increase progressively and uniformly at about 1 per station laterally along the conduit 138, as shown in FIG. 20 to provide tension along the conduit 138. For example, the tilt angle 1.49- of station 132 is greater than that of station 131, the tilt angle 149 of station 133 is greater than that. of station 132, etc. This tilt angle is achieved for each stationby use of vanes of structure and function as 47 and 48 on station 30, that extend vertically and transversely to the length of the base frame of each station of apparatus 130 and serve to tilt the axis of sleeve l61when such station is airborne (to a degree determined by lag bolts as 47 and 47" of embodiment 30) by fixing the position of such vanes relative to the axis of sleeve 16]. Such vanes 47 and 48 are flat rigid imperforate plates (as are vanes 71-74) and each is pivotally supported on a transverse member and 178', respectively, at level of top longitudinal frame members 152 and 154 of frame 150 and extends downward and centrally as well as transversely of frame 150.

This frame and rotor and cable structure provides for each station, as 133 of apparatus 130, even more than in stations of apparatus 30, that the center of gravity of the conduit pipe 138 and the base frames, and of each entire stations as 133 is located well below the plane of rotation of the stations propeller 168; thereby, substantial stability is provided to each station structure when, as shown in'FlGS. l6 and 20, such station is airborne overthe field as 40 and 140 over which such apparatus 130 operates.

For all stations as 133 in the apparatus 130 the geometric center and all of the area of the vanes 147, 148

and 171-174 are above the center of gravity of the station and the portions of the water-filled conduit 138 attached thereto between conduit clamps (as199 and 194) attached to'conduit supporting cables supported by the base frame (as 151) of that station.

As diagrammatically shown in FIGS. 1, 16 and 20, apparatus 130 operates airborne at such a height that conduit 138 is generally 8 to 12 feet above the level of the field 40 with each station as 131-137 at a substantially constant and predetermined elevation (as 31H, 321-1, 331-1, 341-1, 351-1, 3611 for apparatus 30) notwithstanding variations in elevation of adjacent portions as 40B, 40C, and 40D of the field 40, as shown in FIG.

Thus, the conduit 138 travels in a surface (as 38P) with the portions of such surface at substantially constant height (generally shown in FIG. 1 as 38H and in FIG. 16 as l38I-l) over the level of the portions of the surface, as 40A, 40B, 40C and 40D of the field 40.

The outrigger frame assembly also includesdimensionally stable horizontally extending cables as 187 and 188 and 189 (FIG. and vertically extending cables 185 and 186 that serve to fixedly locate the direction of extension of beams 182 and 183 relative to the frame The term ground effect" as used herein means the characteristic of an airborne helicopter blade supported structure, such as the stations as 33 or 133 of apparatuses 30 and 130 to exert a greater lifting force at a fixed rate of rotor rotation when the rotor blade 68 LII or 168 is [a] closer to the ground, i.e. about A to X: of

the diameter of the circle traversed by the periphery of the rotor blades than when [b] such structure (blade 68 or 168) is at a greater height, as two to four times the diameter of the circle traversed by the periphery of the rotor blade.

The behaviour of each of these rotor-supported station structures 130 and 30 of apparatus 30 and 130 is as though the density of the air medium supporting such structures was greater closer to the ground at such fixed speed of the rotor than at the greater distances from the ground. Accordingly, in operation,-these rotor-supported structures rise to and stay at, and generally appear to float or hover at a narrow (:1 foot) fixed range of height as 38H and 138H over the ground for a fixed rate of rotor speed (as measured by rotor r.p.m.) with a fixed amount of load borne by such rotor when the air flow or wind parallel to the ground in the vicinity of the rotor is negligible or at a constant and low value. The voltage to the motors as 62 and 63 and 162 and 163 is, accordingly, automatically raised in response to greater wind velocity along the ground over which the conduit as 38 or 138 passes during the operation of the apparatus 30 and 130 in order to maintain the stations at the desired elevation over the ground or crops to be irrigated and/or sprayed and cooled.

The function of the apparatus 30 and 130 to pass over fields without crushing crops, as 40E in FIG. 7, therebelow permits that, while above ground crops are on the field 40 the apparatuses 30 and/or 130 may apply a fog over such above-ground crops such as cotton and grapes as wll as grain crops as sorghum and rice and thereby lower the surface temperature thereof from a usual dry air temperature in excess of llOF, when in the sunlight, to below 80F; this cooling results in a preservation of the crop that might otherwise deteriorate on continued exposure to such elevated temperature. The apparatus 30 and 130, for such cooling purpose, rapidly rotates about its pivot 39 as above described and traverses the field and crops thereabove to cover a quarter section in one-half to three-quarters of an hour, and thereby rapidly effects action that avoids damage to crops from exposure to excessive temperature during growth as well as when ready for harvest. For this purpose, the speed control assembly 239 provides driving power by belt 274 from a pulley wheel 272 that is fixed to pulley wheel 259 and co-axial therewith but of larger diameter and rotatable about shaft 264 to a pulley wheel 273 on ell-shaped portion 38 of pipe 38 whereby to then provide a complete (360) rotation of the apparatus 30 about pivot pipe 39 at a uniform angular speed in 45 to minutes. The same rapid operation of apparatus 30 or 130 serves to protect crops from damaging effects of freezes.

In operation of apparatus 30 when one station as 33 is in advance of adjacent stations (as shown in FIG. 10, which shows position 113 of FIG. I), the cables 101 and 102, which are flexible but dimensionally stable and fixedly attached at their ends distant from station 33 to clamps as 99 and 94 which are firmly fixed to the conduit 38 (which may be a 3 inch aluminum metal conduit, with water therein at pressure of 50 to l50 p.s.i.g.) cause the vanes 71-74 to tilt forwardly as shown in FIG. 5 because of the displacement of the fixed ends of the cables as 101 and 102 from the neutral position of FIGS. 8 and 1A of FIG. 1 to positions more distant from cable locating means such as pulley 105 and bell crank 104. On such tilting of such vanes 71-74, the airflow from the rotor 68 thereabove causes that station 33, when airborne, to move rearwardly.

Such action at each of the airborne stations of apparatus 30, when in such forwardly displaced position, maintains the array of stations of apparatus 30 in a straight line during the movement of such array of stations about the pivot pipe therefor, as'39. The same action to move the vanes of a station, and thereby the station, occurs at cables of station 31 when that station advances ahead of adjacent central section of conduit 38,

which section of conduit is driven by the speed control assembly 239 (in apparatus 30, and a similar assembly used for apparatus and thereby maintains that station with the vertical center plane of base frame as in line with thecentral axis (horizontal portion) of pipe 38 adjacent the pivot pipe 39; as that portion of the pipe 38 is driven at a constant angular speed by assembly 239, that portion of conduit 38 determines the position of station 31 and, in turn, the portion of conduit lateral to that station and, thereby, the position of the neighboring station, as 32, which similarly determines the position of station 33 and, sequentially, all the stations of apparatus 30.

In the operation of apparatus 30, when one station as 33 is to the rear of adjacent stations (as shown in FIG. 9 which shows position 1E of FIG. 1), the cables 101 and 102, which'are flexible but dimensionally stable and fixedly attached at their ends distant from station 33 to clamps as 99 and 94 which are'firmly fixed to the closer to cable locating means such as pulley 105 and bell crank 104 due to the action of the tension springs as 110 and 111 thereon. On such tilting of such vanes 71-74, the airflow from the rotor 68 thereabove causes that station 33, when airborne, to move forwardly. Such action at each of the airborne stations of apparatus 30 when in such rearwardly displaced position maintains the array of stations of apparatus 30 in a straight line during the movement of such array of stations about the pivot pipe therefor,as 39. The same action to move the vanes of a station, and thereby the station, occurs at cables of station 31 when that station is in retard of adjacent central section of conduit 38, as

such section of conduit is driven by the speed control assembly 239 (in apparatus 30 and a similar assembly used for apparatus 130) and thereby maintains that station with the vertical center plane of its base frame as 150 in line with, the central axis (horizontal portion) of pipe 38 adjacent the pivot pipe 39; as that portion of the pipe 38 is driven at a constant angular speed by assembly 239, that portion of conduit 38 determines the position of station 31 and, in turn, the portion of conduit lateral to that station and, thereby, the position of the neighboring station, as 32, which similarly determines the position of station 33 and, sequentially, all the stations of apparatus 30.

In the operation of apparatus 130, when one station, as 133, is in advance of adjacent stations (as shown in FIG. 19 which corresponds to position 113 of FIG. 1), the cables 201 and 202, which are flexible but dimensionally stable and fixedly attached at their ends distant from station 133 to clamps as 199 and 194 which are firmly fixed to the conduit 138 (which may be a 3 inch aluminum metal conduit, with water therein at pressure of 50 to 150 p.s.i.g.) cause the vanes 171-174 to tilt forwardly, as shown in FIG. 5 in dashed lines, because of the displacement of the fixed ends of the cables as 201 amd 202 from the neutral position of FIGS. 17 and 1A of FIG. 1 to positions more distant from cable locating means such as pulley 205 and 204 and the yielding of springs as 210 and 211. On such tilting of such vanes, 171-174, the airflow from the rotor 168 thereabove causes that station 133, when airborne, to move rearwardly.

Such action at each of the airborne stations of apparatus 130, when in such forwardly displaced position, maintains the array of stations of apparatus 130 in'a straight line during the movement of such array of stations about the pivot pipe therefor, as 39. The same action to move the vanes of a station, and thereby the station, occurs at cables of station 131 when that station advances ahead of adjacent central section of conduit 138, which section of conduit is driven by a speed control assembly, as 239, in apparatus 30, and thereby maintains that station with the vertical center plane of frame 150 in line with the central axis horizontal portion of pipe 138 adjacent the pivot pipe 139; as that portion of the pipe 138 is driven at a constant angular speed as by assembly, as 239, that portion of conduit 138 determines the position of station 131 and, in turn, the portion of conduit lateral to that station and, thereby, the position of the neighboring station, as 132, which, similarly, determines the position of station 133 and. sequentially, all the stations of apparatus 130,

In the operation of apparatus 130, when one station, as 133, is to the rear of adjacent stations (as shown in FIG. 18 which shows position 1B of FIG. 1), the cables 20] and 202, which are flexible but dimensionally stable and fixedly attached at their ends distant from station 133 to clamps as 199 and 194 which are firmly fixed to the conduit 138 (which may be a 3 inch aluminum metal conduit with water therein at pressure of 50 to I50 p.s.i.g.) cause the vanes 171-174 to tilt rearwardly, as shown in FIG. 5 in full lines, because of the displacement of the fixed ends of the cables as 201 and 202 from the neutral position of FIGS. 17 and 1A of FIG. 1 to positions closer to cable locating means such as pulley 205 and 204 due to action of tension springs as 210 and 211 thereon. On such tilting of such vanes 171-174, the airflow from the rotor 168 thereabove causes that station 133, when airborne, to move forwardly.

Such action at each of the airborne stations of apparatus 130, when in such rearwardly displaced position maintains the array of stations of apparatus in a straight line during movement of such array of stations about the pivot pipe therefor, as 39. The same action to move the vanes of a station, and thereby the station, occurs at cables of station 131 when that station is in retard of adjacent central section of conduit 138, which section of conduit is driven by a speed control assembly (as 239 in apparatus 30) and thereby maintains that station with the vertical center plane of its frame in line with the central axis horizontal portion of pipe 38 adjacent the pivot pipe 39; as that portion of the pipe 138 is driven at a constant angular speed, as by assembly 239, that portion of conduit 138 determines the position of station 131, and, in turn, the portion of conduit lateral to that station and, thereby, the position of the neighboring station, as 132,.which similarly determines the position of station 133,and, sequentially, all the stations of apparatus 130.

While each of the motors as 62 and 63 at each station as 33 has a separate speed control, such is adjusted to provide that such station reaches the height desired over the field in view of the particular weight of cable and water and pipe at such station and distance from generator 39G and once so set, needs'not again, in normal operations, be adjusted. Control of height of the conduit 38 (or 138-in embodiment 130) along its entire length thereby is effected by voltage regulation at the generator, greater voltage providing greater height of conduit 38.

The above description of the process operation of apparatuses 30 and 130 to hover, align, and to sprinkle and cool crops is common to both such apparatuses and the description of operation equivalentparts of apparatus 30 that appear in apparatus 130,such as motors 62 and 63 (and motors 162 and 163 in embodiment 130) and such as vanes 71-74 (and 171-174 in' embodiment 130) applies to the operation of such part in embodiments 130 and 30.

The motors, as 62 and 63 and 162 and 163, may be substituted for by hydraulic motors operatively connected to the rotors as in assemblies 33 and 133 with a central hydraulic power source in lieu of generator 39G connected thereto and controls at each station for such motors and rotors to achieve the desired height of conduit rather than electrical motors as above described, although the process is otherwise the same and the same vanes (as 71-74) and control cables (as 101-102) are used.

In operation of apparatus 30 and 130, the pump of the well for field 40 passes water by pivot pipe as 39 to conduit as 38 while an electric generator 39G driven by a gas or gasoline powered motor 39M, both near pipe 39, passes electric power suitable for do. motors as 62 and 63 via insulated cables as 38C, which are firmly attached to as by clamps 38C and supported on conduit 38 (or 138) to motors as 62 and 62 (or 162 and 163) of each station as 33 (or 133) and drives the rotors thereof as 68 (or 168) each of 20 feet diameter, 6 inches wide blade in the preferred embodiment at 450-600 r.p.m. Each of the stations as 33 (or 133) of apparatus 30 (or 130)v rises dependent on the wind velocity until the conduit as 38 (or 138) to and stays substantially at a height of 3 to 10 feet'above the ground,

the conduit as 38 being supported by the cables as 91, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98, each station as above described for station 33. The ground effect of the air on the rotors of each station as 31-37 maintains those stations at a rela tively constant height over the ground therebelow so that, as an elevated portion of the land, as 40D is traversed by one of the stations, as 35, the station rises to a greater absolute elevation but maintains the same distance or height (35H) over the ground therebelow. Water passes from all the nozzles as 42, 42, 42 or conduit as 38 (or 138) to the ground therebelow to be irrigated as field 40 (or 140) at a rate proportional to the distance of the nozzle from the pivot pipe. A drive and timer wheel as 239 is driven to rotate automatically, once started, low rate of speed such as l revolution per each four hours and rotates the portion of conduit as 38 (or 138) located between the central pivot pipe as 39 and the most central station, as 31 (or 131), counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 1 at such low rate of speed. The movement of such pipe portion relative to the station as 31 (or 131) causes the control cables corresponding to cables 101 and 102 on station 33 attached thereto to move the control vanes on station 31 (or 131) corresponding to vanes 71-74 of station 33 thereby to move the station 31 (or 131) counterclockwise until the portions of conduit as 38 (or 138) central and lateral of station 31 (or 131 in embodiment 130) are in a straight line, or depending on the amount of irregularity in the ground of area 40, substantially in the same vertical plane. Thereafter, in serial sequence, the several stations 32-37 also by similar sensing of the bending of the conduit 38 relative to the axis of the base frame as 51, to which base frame the conduit 38 is firmly attached at a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart points (as 38 and 38") and resulting actuation of vanes as 71-74 of station 33 on all the stations of the assembly 30 move the sequentially laterally located portions of conduit 38 counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 1 so that all the stations as 31-37 of assembly 30 and all portions of conduit 38 traverse the field 40 or 140 at a substantially uniform height and at an even angular rate of speed determined by the setting of the drive and timer wheel 239 while the water passes from the conduit 38 to the field to be irrigated at an even rate of flow of volume of water for each unit of area field whether or not the surface of the field is flat or rolling or irregular or has crevasses, ditches, markers, lakes or ridges thereon and without any damage to then above ground growing crops thereon (such as corn, sorghum, wheat, grapes). v

I claim:

1. A process for automatically moving both a long elevated conduit for distributing and sprinkling water over a large field and a series of like supports for that conduit about and out of contact with that field and crops thereon while irrigating that field and crop and with water from that conduit so that the apparatus does not create ruts in that irrigated field or crush growing crops on that field while the conduit traverses and irrigates the field and crops thereon at an even rate, said process comprising the step of applying the ground effect of a rotating helicopter type rotor to maintain each of said series of like conduit-supporting station frames attached to the conduit at spaced apart distances along that conduit at a substantially fixed height over ground and crops while sensing the alignment of each of the series of stations in the horizontal plane and moving each of the airborne stations in response thereto transversely of the conduit in a generally horizontal plane while supplying water to and sprinkling water from the conduit to the ground therebelow at a uniform rate of water volume per unit of ground area.

2. Process as in claim 1 and comprising also the steps of driving the conduit in a circular, generally horizontal,

path around a central pivot post at a predetermined rate of angular speed forwardly and transverse to the length of said conduit while supplying water to said conduit and passing said water from said conduit downwardly towards said field while said rotors provide a downwardly directed air stream to maintain said stations and conduit airborne and over said ground and crop;

said step of sensing of station alignment being initiated by automatic sensing of any displacement of each of said stations relative to a predetermined position thereof relative to neighboring stations of said series, and

said step of moving each station in response thereto comprises the step of, for each station, automatically directing a portion of the downwardly directed air stream from said rotor thereof rearwards to move said airborne station forwardly and automatically directing a portion of the downwardly directed air stream from said rotor thereof forwards to move said stations rearwardly.

3. Apparatus comprising a series of like airborne conduit support stations serially spaced apart along the length of the conduit and attached to and supporting the conduit, each such airborne conduit support station comprising a base frame for a rotor, a motor attached to the rotor and supported on said base frame, a rotor protecting frame supported on said frame at level of said rotor and movably supporting control cables at points spaced away from the base frame in direction transverse to length of the conduit, said cables sensitive to alignment means of each support station relative to the others in the series and operatively connected to station position control meanson said frame.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein, for each station,

said rotor is located above the base frame thereof,

and

said base frame is attached to and supports the conduit, and

said rotor protecting frame extends transversely to said conduit forwardly and rearwardly of said rotor and is located at the vertical level of said rotor, and

said conduit is a fluid carrying conduit bendable transversely to its length, and said control cables each extend from a point of attachment to said conduit between neighboring stations of said series of stations to a point of support on said rotor protecting frame which point is transversely spaced away from said conduit and there is operatively connected to said station position control means, said station position control means comprising an air stream directing means that is movably supported on said base frame below said rotor whereby to control the position of each of said stations in said series of stations. 5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said conduit is pivotally attached at one end thereof to a stationary 

1. A process for automatically moving both a long elevated conduit for distributing and sprinkling water over a large field and a series of like supports for that conduit about and out of contact with that field and crops thereon while irrigating that field and crop and with water from that conduit so that the apparatus does not create ruts in that irrigated field or crush growing crops on that field while the conduit traverses and irrigates the field and crops thereon at an even rate, said process comprising the step of applying the ground effect of a rotating helicopter type rotor to maintain each of said series of like conduit-supporting station frames attached to the conduit at spaced apart distances along that conduit at a substantially fixed height over ground and crops while sensing the alignment of each of the series of stations in the horizontal plane and moving each of the airborne stations in response thereto transversely of the conduit in a generally horizontal plane while supplying water to and sprinkling water from the conduit to the ground therebelow at a uniform rate of water volume per unit of ground area.
 2. Process as in claim 1 and comprising also the steps of driving the conduit in a circular, generally horizontal, path around a central pivot post at a predetermined rate of angular speed forwardly and transverse to the length of said conduit while supplying water to said conduit and passing said water from said conduit downwardly towards said field while said rotors provide a downwardly directed air stream to maintain said stations and conduit airborne and over said ground and crop; said step of sensing of station alignment being initiated by automatic sensing oF any displacement of each of said stations relative to a predetermined position thereof relative to neighboring stations of said series, and said step of moving each station in response thereto comprises the step of, for each station, automatically directing a portion of the downwardly directed air stream from said rotor thereof rearwards to move said airborne station forwardly and automatically directing a portion of the downwardly directed air stream from said rotor thereof forwards to move said stations rearwardly.
 3. Apparatus comprising a series of like airborne conduit support stations serially spaced apart along the length of the conduit and attached to and supporting the conduit, each such airborne conduit support station comprising a base frame for a rotor, a motor attached to the rotor and supported on said base frame, a rotor protecting frame supported on said frame at level of said rotor and movably supporting control cables at points spaced away from the base frame in direction transverse to length of the conduit, said cables sensitive to alignment means of each support station relative to the others in the series and operatively connected to station position control means on said frame.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein, for each station, said rotor is located above the base frame thereof, and said base frame is attached to and supports the conduit, and said rotor protecting frame extends transversely to said conduit forwardly and rearwardly of said rotor and is located at the vertical level of said rotor, and said conduit is a fluid carrying conduit bendable transversely to its length, and said control cables each extend from a point of attachment to said conduit between neighboring stations of said series of stations to a point of support on said rotor protecting frame which point is transversely spaced away from said conduit and there is operatively connected to said station position control means, said station position control means comprising an air stream directing means that is movably supported on said base frame below said rotor whereby to control the position of each of said stations in said series of stations.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said conduit is pivotally attached at one end thereof to a stationary vertically extending pipe, a source of fluid is operatively connected to said stationary pipe, and said air stream directing means is located below said rotor and above the center of gravity of said station and said fluid carrying conduit contains fluid under pressure in excess of atmospheric and a source of fluid is operatively attached to said conduit.
 6. Apparatus comprising a series of like airborne conduit support stations serially spaced apart along the length of the conduit and attached to and supporting the conduit, each such airborne conduit support station comprising a base frame for a rotor, a motor attached to the rotor and supported on said base frame, a laterally extending wheel-supporting frame in a position at level of the base frame and supporting control cables at points spaced away from the base frame in direction transverse to the length of said conduit, said cables sensitive to alignment of each support station relative to the others in the series and operatively connected to station position control means on said frame.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein, for each station: a. said rotor is located above the base frame thereof; and b. said base frame is attached to and supports the conduit; and c. said wheel supporting frame extends transversely of said conduit and is at the level of said base frame; and d. said conduit is bendable transversely to its length, and e. said control cables each extend from a point of attachment to said conduit between neighboring stations of said series of stations to a point of support on said wheel support frame which is transversely spaced from said conduit and there is operatively connected to an air stream directing mEans movably supported on said base frame below said rotor.
 8. A process for automatically moving both a long elevated conduit for distributing and sprinkling water over a large field and a series of like supports for that conduit about and out of contact with that field and crops thereon while cooling that crop with sprayed water from that conduit so that the apparatus does not crush such growing crops on that field while the conduit traverses and sprays the crops thereon at an even rate, said process comprising the step of applying the ground effect of a rotating helicopter type rotor to maintain each of said series of like conduit-supporting station frames attached to the conduit at spaced apart distances along that conduit at a substantially fixed height over said crops while sensing the alignment of each of the series of stations in the horizontal plane and moving each of the airborne stations in response thereto transversely of the conduit in a generally horizontal plane while supplying water to and sprinkling water from the conduit to the crops therebelow at a uniform rate of water volume per unit of ground area.
 9. Process as in claim 8 and comprising also the steps of driving the conduit in a circular, generally horizontal, path around a central pivot post at a predetermined rate of angular speed forwardly and transverse to the length of said conduit while supplying water to said conduit and passing said water from said conduit downwardly towards said field while said rotors provide a downwardly directed air stream to maintain said stations and conduit airborne and over said ground and crop; said step of sensing of station alignment being initiated by automatic sensing of any displacement of each of said stations relative to a predetermined position thereof relative to neighboring stations of said series, and said step of moving each station in response thereto comprises the step of, for each station, automatically directing a portion of the downwardly directed air stream from said rotor thereof rearwards to move said airborne station forwardly and automatically directing a portion of the downwardly directed air stream from said rotor thereof forwards to move said stations rearwardly.
 10. Process as in claim 9 wherein said conduit traverses a field of one-fourth section in size within a period of 45 minutes. 